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Arrest made in Nanticoke ‘swatting’ incident

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Workplace harassment at Keystone Garden Estates may be the motive that left a Luzerne man hospitalized with serious head injuries, according to court records.</p><p>Luzerne police on Wednesday charged Jett P. Fleegle, 19, of Mountain Top, with attacking Richard Meier in the area of 335 Union St. on July 20.</p><p>Police allege Fleegle was driven to the residence in a vehicle occupied by his girlfriend, Katie Ann Lieberman, 21, of Wapwallopen.</p><p>Court records say Lieberman was being harassed by Meier while working at Keystone Garden Estates, a long-term care facility in Larksville, and Fleegle wanted to defend his girlfriend.</p><p>During their arraignment before District Judge James Haggerty in Kingston on Wednesday, Lieberman said she no longer is employed at Keystone Garden Estates where she worked in an office.</p><p>Meier is a dietary worker at the facility, according to his Facebook account.</p><p>Fleegle&#8217;s father, Joshua, said before and during the arraignment that his son and girlfriend are innocent.</p><p>&#8220;They are still harassing her, the people on the other end of this,&#8221; Joshua Fleegle said.</p><p>Police responded to Union Street just after 10 p.m. on June 20 finding Meier with a head injury and unresponsive on the sidewalk.</p><p>Shawn Lehman told police he was standing with Meier when a white vehicle pulled up and two men jumped out. Lehman identified Fleegle who punched Meier in the face before running back to the vehicle.</p><p>Police said surveillance cameras from a residence recorded the assault. Video footage shows Lehman and Meier standing in front of the residence when a man runs straight at Meier and began punching him in the face several times, according to court records.</p><p>Lehman walked away from the confrontation and spotted Lieberman in the vehicle. Another man who drove Fleegle did not participate in the alleged assault.</p><p>Police said Meier underwent surgery at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for a brain injury.</p><p>During an interview with police, Lieberman and Fleegle claimed the reason they went to Luzerne was due to an exchange of text messages that led to an argument with Meier. Fleegle claimed he only went to meet Meier to tell him to stop harassing his girlfriend, court records say.</p><p>Fleegle told police Meier was the first person to throw a punch and he only defended himself.</p><p>About one hour before the assault, police said Meier and Lieberman exchanged text messages. Fleegle used Lieberman&#8217;s phone to send Meier a text stating, &#8220;LOL, do I need to come see you big guy this is her boyfriend, you can say it to me tough guy.&#8221;</p><p>Meier allegedly received more text messages stating, &#8220;I&#8217;m coming tough guy,&#8221; and &#8220;20 minutes away you want to talk hot (expletive) and my boyfriend down play so I guess you want this&#8221;</p><p>About 30 minutes before Fleegle arrived on Union Street, Lieberman sent Lehman a message on Facebook stating, &#8220;Richie is about to get his ass beat. Well my boyfriend don&#8217;t mess around so alright just thought I warn you.&#8221;</p><p>Lehman responded telling Lieberman not to come to his residence and to tell Fleegle to back off.</p><p>&#8220;Richie is asking for it? My boyfriend is protecting me because Richie wants to say I don&#8217;t know how to do my job. You shouldn&#8217;t of gave him my number. He&#8217;s getting what he&#8217;s asking for,&#8221; Lieberman&#8217;s text to Lehman says, court records say.</p><p>Fleegle was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and criminal conspiracy. He was released on $75,000 unsecured bail.</p><p>Lieberman was charged with criminal conspiracy and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.</p><p>Haggerty instructed Fleegle and Lieberman not to have any contact with Meier and Lehman while free on bail.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Jett P. Fleegle, right, and his girlfriend Katie A. Lieberman leave district court in Kingston after they were arraigned on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Jett-Fleegle-07312019.jpg</photo0><caption0>Jett P. Fleegle, right, and his girlfriend Katie A. Lieberman leave district court in Kingston after they were arraigned on Wednesday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Ed Lewis | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Defending his girl: Couple charged with beating, blame workplace harassment